One of the best parts of road tripping is that while you enjoy the journey, you can stop to learn about what’s around you.Instead of just flying over the heartland and looking at the farms that grow food for the world, you can stop, talk to farmers and ranchers and decide what your family needs to do to eat healthier.

The latest trend in family vacations is geocaching on the road. Road Trips for Families is Still on VaCachen and playing in the nation’s largest high-tech treasure hunt.

When I have done TV or radio appearances about our trip, one of the most common examples of letting kids just entertain themselves comes from this section of our drive. I tell parents frequently that you never know what your kids understand about the world unless you let them tell you in their own words.

Independence Day. Whether it means a weekend getaway to eat watermelon, watch a small town parade and wave a flag or a week-long dirt bike excursion like Sandfest, it’s all about family and making memories. Here are our picks for this year’s best hometown celebrations and trips for the 4th of July.

The Mt. Hood Territory region of Oregon is one of the most beautiful road trips in the US. You can explore the region with less than 100 miles of actual road trip distance and it’s great for a weekend or partial-week trip. The scenery is world-class, but the region is also so flexible that each season offers different attractions and opportunities to explore the area, that you could return several times a year and take a totally different trip. We love it for families because of that flexibility and the short driving distance between each point.

It’s called The Great American Road Trip for a reason. There’s no better way to celebrate Independence Day than to hit the road and experience history. The fireworks are an added bonus.

Looking for some road trip plans and routes in the green state of Oregon? KATU News has compiled a list of many good options. One of my favorites is the Mount Hood Scenic Byway, but there are also fantastic wine tasting loops as well as a fun Lewis & Clark Odyessy that might make history more fun for the kids.